Cylinder mode selection system for variable displacement internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A system for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated in a multicylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a driver operable accelerator control, comprising:
- an accelerator control position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator control and for generating an acclerator control position signal indicating such position;
an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine and for generating an engine speed signal indicating such speed; and
a processor containing stored values for engine load as functions of engine speed and accelerator control position and engine speed at wide open throttle, with said processor further comprising means for receiving said accelerator control position, engine speed, and engine load signals and for inferring engine load based on the accelerator control position and upon engine speed, with said processor further comprising means for comparing the sensed engine load with the stored value for engine load at wide open throttle and the same engine speed and for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated based at least in part upon the results said comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated in a multi-cylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a driver operable accelerator control includes an accelerator control position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator control and an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine, as well as a processor containing stored values for engine load as functions of engine speed and accelerator position and also engine load at wide open throttle. The processor infers engine load based on the accelerator control position and engine speed then selects the number of cylinders of the engine to be operated based at least in part of a comparison of the inferred engine load and the maximum possible load at the same engine speed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated in a multicylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a driver operable accelerator control, comprising:
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an accelerator control position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator control and for generating an acclerator control position signal indicating such position; an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine and for generating an engine speed signal indicating such speed; and a processor containing stored values for engine load as functions of engine speed and accelerator control position and engine speed at wide open throttle, with said processor further comprising means for receiving said accelerator control position, engine speed, and engine load signals and for inferring engine load based on the accelerator control position and upon engine speed, with said processor further comprising means for comparing the sensed engine load with the stored value for engine load at wide open throttle and the same engine speed and for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated based at least in part upon the results said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated in a multicylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a driver operable accelerator control, comprising:
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an accelerator control position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator control and for generating an accelerator control position signal indicating such position as a function of time; an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine and for generating an engine speed signal indicating such speed; and a processor containing predetermined limit values for engine speed and a transfer function of accelerator control position, with said processor further comprising means for receiving said accelerator control position and engine speed signals, means for calculating the value of said accelerator control position function, and means for selecting fractional operation in the event that sensed engine speed and the value of said accelerator control position function lie between said predetermined limit values. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated in a multicylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a driver operable accelerator control, comprising:
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an accelerator control position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator control and for generating an accelerator control position signal indicating such position as a function of time; an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine and for generating an engine speed signal indicating such speed; and a processor containing predetermined limit values for engine speed and a transfer function of accelerator control position, with said processor further comprising means for receiving said accelerator control position and engine speed signals, means for calculating the value of said accelerator control position function, and means for selecting fractional operation in the event that sensed engine speed and the value of said accelerator control position function lie between said predetermined limit values, with said processor generating a value for the accelerator control limit values based upon the length of time between changes in the number of operating cylinders.
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Specification